From December, Air France routes from Porto and Lisbon will be operated by Joon, after the airline said it wanted to make its newest brand “accessible to everyone.”
Analysts have put the shift down to a change in preferences by so-called Millennials, young adults aged 18 to 35, whose travel habits are revolutionising the air industry.
A report by newspaper i said Millennials “have been transforming the economy and forcing some traditional sectors to reinvent themselves. Now the shift seems to be knocking on the door of aviation.”
A new winter route operated by Joon has been announced for Porto, while the striking blue aircraft will also be taking over and reinforcing Air France’s flights from Lisbon.
Joon CEO Jean-Michel Mathieu explained: “In Portugal’s case, Porto and Lisbon will be served by Joon. This means that Air France, as a brand, will disappear from Portugal.”
Tickets will still be sold via Air France and are already on sale.
The new airline was only unveiled earlier this month in Paris, and, according to business site dinheirovivo.pt, will be selling flights between Portugal and the French capital from €39.
Aimed at the Millennial market, Joon’s other main destinations include Barcelona, and from March next year it will start long-distance flights to Fortaleza, Brazil and Mahé in the Seychelles in a bid to rival low-cost long-haul routes from carriers such as
Norwegian.
It claims it aims to be a combination of the “classic and low-cost”, will carry organic food and drink for all passengers, and will offer 3D VR headsets on its long-haul flights.
Joon will have 28 aircraft in its fleet by 2020, and in 2019 will have an A350 with onboard wifi.
Flights will be operated by Air France pilots but 140 members of cabin crew are to be hired to boost the
contingent.